Winter Twist Pop Up Cards

Here is a trio of dimensional action cards for 

celebrating the winter months with creativity and whimsy.

Each is available as a separate cut file to download.

This style of action card is surprisingly easy to assembly. 

Each of these designs has mirror-image front and back 

shaped bases that join or are connected at or near the top. 

*  *  *  *  *

Top Hat design has top-joined card base, with layered hat crown,

cedar and berry sprig stems, snowflake button, with snowflake

accent shapes on the "pop up" arms inside.

It measures approx. 5.5” wide x 5” tall when closed. 

.

Snowman has a full-height front card base with

a shorter, welded top edge base that

holds the twist 'n' pop mechanism inside.

Lots of layered-on details make him a cheery

card to create and give.

Card measures approx. 5” wide x 6.8” tall when closed.

Festive Snowflake is the simplest of these three designs to cut 

and create, with joined front and back card base shapes.

Layered large snowflake with mini hearts is the main front feature,

echoed by smaller snowflakes with larger hearts 

on the "arms" panel inside.

(Optional card base shapes that offset beyond

the snowflake base are included, 

slightly different from the model shown.)

It measures approx. 5.5” wide x 6” tall when closed. 

NOTE: The Top Hat card will be described and
demonstrated first in complete detail. Snowman (Step 23)
and Snowflake (Step 30) cards assemblies will follow, 
referring to similar steps shown for the Top Hat card.

TOP HAT CARD
1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A card front base   B twist and pop mechanism
C interior rectangle accent shape   D "arms" strip  
E arms accent rectangles with snowflakes (4 ea.)
F main hat base (shows thru as top of hat)
G hat crown   H hat crown middle contour
I hat brim overlay   J hat band
K snowflake button  L cedar 1, 2 & berries sprigs

2. Prepare the twist and pop mechanism shape

by creasing across center as 'valley' fold . . .

. . . and on first diagonal as 'mountain' fold, and . . .

. . . and on second diagonal as 'mountain' fold.

3. Bend and form the mechanism by pushing side
extensions inward while allowing crease folds
to bend . . .

. . . all the way under between the front and back
'house'-shaped panels, until . . . 

. . . extensions are completely behind and in place

behind front and back panels.

Apply fingertip pressure to complete creases

to form precise point at top.

4. Apply fingertip pressure firmly through the layers

to ensure that the interior folds are crisp and

as mechanism is at flat as possible.

5. Fold the main card base along the horizontal

middle along the short connecting 'bridge'.

Open, and locate the small vertical guide mark

that identifies the center, below the perforation

on the back panel.

6. Apply adhesive to the backside of the folded
mechanism, then . . . 

. . . position the mechanism over the interior back panel

with the top tip a smidge BELOW the perf line

with tip centered at guide mark.

Adjust to make sure that the sides of the mechanism

are balanced with same margin between side edges

and base shape side edges. 

Make sure that the tip is backed away from perf line
far enough so that the card base can close,
then fully attach in place.

7. Apply adhesive to the top of the mechanism . . .

. . . close the base by folding on perf line,
taking care to line up shape's cut edges all around.
Apply pressure to ensure that the surfaces
are firmly attached through all layers.

8. Bend the arms mechanism on the vertical perforation

lines in alternating 'valley' and 'mountain' folds

as shown.

9. Open the arm strip flat.

10. Position and attach each accent snowflake

on the center of the four rectangle accents.

11. Position and attach each rectangle panel

assembly onto the panels of arm strip.

12. Open the mechanism/base assembly,
preview the arms strip assembly as it will be attached
to the 'arm' extensions.

Bend the arms strip at the center line, then
position the fold at the center intersection of
the mechanism's crease lines.

Also adjust so that the strip is centered

top to bottom along the mechanism horizontal

center crease by checking to see that the same

amount of the arm extension is showing above 

and below where the pointing finger indicates.

13. Unfold the strip, then re-fold on the right end

perforation line, and double check that the top-to-bottom

positioning is centered on both ends.

14. Identify the UPPER RIGHT half of the exposed

end of the arm extension of base, then apply

adhesive only to that portion as defined by

horizontal perforation line and edges.

15. Carefully unfold the end panel and attach firmly . . .

. . . to the adhesive-applied portion of extension.

16. Fold back the left end panel of the arms strip

in similar manner to identify the LOWER LEFT

portion. Apply adhesive, re-fold and apply pressure

as with the right end, in Steps 14-15. 

17. "Prime" the mechanism with arms assembly
to close the first time by directing the RIGHT end
of strip to move downward and inward while at
the same time the LEFT end of the strip moves
upward and inward, until . . . 

. . . the mechanism and arms fold completely flat.

Apply fingertip pressure through all layers to

ensure that they lay as flat as possible.

18. Assemble the hat by: a) positioning the brim shape

along the lower matching portion of hat main base;

b) identifying the top edge guide marks on
the main crown shape, then . . .

. . . positioning and attaching the center contour
shape at the guide marks, with top and bottom edges
lined up;

c) position the crown assembly over the base
assembly and attach.

19. Assemble the sprigs unit by layering and attaching
the 2-branch cedar sprig stem over the tall sprig
stem, then positioning and attaching the berry
stem over the sprigs stem.

20. Position and attach the hat band across the
bottom edge of the crown, above brim shape's edge,
but BEFORE it is fully attached . . .

. . . slip the sprig assembly stem under the band

near center and adjust position as desired before

attaching sprig and band fully.

21. Tie twine knot and bow through snowflake button.

Position and attach over the sprig and band as desired.

22. Position the hat assembly over the base front

with offset margin all around, and attach in place.

Here is the completed Top Hat Twist Pop Up Card.

Shown here closed, and . . .

. . . opened.

SNOWMAN CARD
23. Identify and cut the shapes:
A half-height main card base connected front/back
B full-height main card front panel
C mechanism panel   D interior rectangle accent
E arms strip    F interior accent rectangles with snowflakes
G snowman torso base   
H head/hat base (NOTE this shape includes
eye cutouts and nose & cheek guide marks in final file)
I hat base with berry cutout
J scarf base and overlay
K facial features: heart cheeks, smile, 
carrot nose, eyes
M holly assembly: base (bottom), full leaf overlay,
half leaf overlay
N berry circle base and top circle

24. Refer to Steps 2-4, above, to prepare the mechanism.

25. Bend the half-height main card base at

horizontal center fold as 'mountain' fold.

26. Identify the interior middle top guide mark
on the card base back panel.

Refer to Step 6-7 to position and attach the mechanism
to the inside surfaces of base front and back panels.
Shown here is the mechanism being positioned
with tip a smidge below cross perforation line
and guide mark.

Remember to make sure there is just enough
gap to allow card base front to fold in half easily.

27. Refer to Steps 9-17 to prepare and attach

the 'arms' strip ends to the opened mechanism,

then prime the mechanism by folding the first time.

28. Assemble the snowman: a) position and attach head

over the torso shape;

b) layer upper scarf overlay onto base;

c) hat band onto bottom of hat base;
d) layer half leaf onto whole leaf, leaf assembly
onto holly base;

e) hat band onto hat assembly above brim;

f) hat assembly onto head at top where edges
align;

g) position bottom berry circle into cutout

of hat assembly and attach; then position and

attach the top berry over bottom circle

(this stacking will keep berry from being recessed);

h) position and attach holly assembly;

i) position and attach eye accents into circle cutouts,

carrot nose at guide marks, cheek hearts with smile.

29. Position the head assembly over the card front base

shape, with offset margin all around, and attach.

30. Position the head front panel over the mechanism
half-height front panel, align side and bottom edges,
and attach in place.

Here is the completed Snowman Twist Pop Up card
closed, and . . .

. . . opened.

SNOWFLAKE CARD
30. Identify and cut the shapes:
A mechanism shape  B interior rectangle accent
C arms strip   D rectangle accent (4) with
snowflakes (2) and large hearts (2 ea.)
E front card base    F back card base
(NOTE: opt. shapes which include offset at sides
and top side snowflake tips also included in file)
G snowflake with hearts and swirls
H snowflake offset base

31. Refer to Steps 2-4, above, to prepare the mechanism.

32. Prepare the base by bending forward

 along the top perforation of card BACK base

(NOTE: this poor quality image is showing the

back base from the underside.)

32. Apply glue to the backside area of back base
above the perforation line, then . . .

. . . position the card front base over it,

align edges, and join the tip portions above perf line.

Card base will hinge at the joint near top as shown.

33. Refer to Step 6-7 to position and attach the mechanism
to the inside surfaces of base front and back panels.

Shown here is the mechanism being positioned
with tip a smidge below cross perforation line
and guide mark.

34. Refer to Steps 9-17 to prepare and attach

the 'arms' strip ends to the opened mechanism,

then prime the mechanism by folding the first time.

35. Assemble the snowflake unit by positioning

and attaching the snowflake cutout over the offset base.

36. Position and attach each small heart at

the appropriate place within offset tips as shown.

37. Attach ribbon and tie with knot and bow.
38. Position and attach the snowflake assembly
onto the card base front.

39. Position and attach the swirl accent shapes
on each lower side of card front base.

Here is the completed Snowflake Twist Pop Up card

shown closed, and . . .

. . . opened.